Empire of Shadows

Chapter 439: Good Luck [666+14]

“Should I be calling you ‘Mayor Wade’ now?”

Mr. Bowen laughed, his laughter tinged with a hint of mockery.

Everyone knew about the deal between Wade and the mayor, but you couldn't say he was wrong to do it.

The mayor used some of the resources he had accumulated to exchange for Wade having even a tiny chance of running for governor. Anyone in his position would have jumped at the opportunity!

If the mayor said, “Bowen, stand by me, leave this place, and I'll give you the opportunity to be nominated as a candidate for governor. Would you do it?” Bowen would pack his bags and get out of here immediately!

In fact, most people have heard the saying, opportunity is important, but what's even more important is seizing the opportunity!

Everyone knows it's great to be governor, and they can list the reasons why it's great to be governor, but do they really have the chance to be nominated?

No!

Ninety-nine percent of people will never have the opportunity to be nominated as a candidate for governor in their lifetime, let alone participate in a gubernatorial election.

So Wade's decisive deal with the mayor made people admire his choice, a smart choice.

If he could really become governor, that would be even more admirable!

That would be a true crossing of classes!

Regardless of Wade's future development, whether he succeeds or fails, he has actually taken another firm step forward.

In a political environment like the Federation, friends and enemies are not so easily distinguished.

So why shouldn't he be more friendly?

This kind of teasing is also a form of friendliness, and Mayor Wade certainly understood it.

“I prefer you to call me ‘Councilor Wade.’ It's not so good over here. I lack friends like you, and my work isn't going so smoothly!”

Mayor Wade didn't directly jump into the topic, but casually talked about some of the problems he encountered in his new work environment.

The two of them communicated as if they were ordinary people discussing work-related issues, like a newly “parachuted” mayor.

Mayor Wade didn't have a strong foundation there, and he faced almost the exact same predicament as Sydney (the mayor) before!

Apart from some party representatives who could say a few words for him at the Social Party Congress, he had no help in the city's management at all.

However, his methods were gentler than Sydney's, and he wasn't as much of a gambler.

After taking office, he quickly got along well with the city's middle management, frequently holding parties and making friends with officials at this level.

And he would hint to these people that if the opportunity arose, he could promote them further.

In the Federation, cities are centered around the “mayor system,” which means that the mayor has a lot of power and can appoint government officials according to his own preferences.

So his promises were very valuable and meaningful. He was uniting those in the middle and lower ranks who had political ambitions but lacked background and opportunities.

Once the opportunity arose, he could easily subvert the city's original order.

But this would take a considerable amount of time and a certain amount of financial resources. Fortunately, he didn't lack time or money.

After the two talked about work for a while, Mayor Wade changed the subject and talked about the purpose of his call.

“Bowen, I heard you got your hands on a girl these past few days.”

Bowen's expression on the other end of the line changed slightly. The smile on his face faded. “I don't quite understand what you mean by that.”

Mayor Wade didn't hide anything, “I'll be frank, someone wants this girl, and they came to me. I owe them a favor.”

“I didn't guarantee that I could definitely get you to compromise. I just told him that I could try.”

“It's up to you whether you agree or not. Anyway, this matter has nothing to do with me. I'm just returning a favor.”

It sounded like Mayor Wade was trying to clear himself of responsibility, but his words gave Bowen a bad feeling.

Images of certain people appeared in his mind, people who could make Mayor Wade call at this time—

Who would take back a mayor's favor for such a small matter?

Could there be other problems involved?

He fell into thought, and the matter was indeed not that simple.

The girl had seen his face and had already been abused. If he rashly released her, there would be a lot of trouble.

Would she testify against him? Would her family cause trouble for him?

Who was the person behind Wade, and what was their purpose?

These all needed to be considered!

“You're making things difficult for me, Wade.”

Bowen also owed Wade a favor. His son had encountered some trouble before.

At that time, there was no prohibition, and he took a drunk girl from a bar to a hotel. The girl herself may have had some problems, but it was also possible that he was too rough.

In short, the girl bled a lot and almost died. The other party's family was not the kind of bottom-of-society people who had nothing. They also had some influence and were unwilling to compromise.

If his son had to go to court for this, he might face multiple criminal charges and might never get out.

He asked Councilor Wade to solve this problem, and it cost him a lot of money, including the fact that his son still can't return to Goldport City.

Although the process was a bit tortuous, the final result was good, and both parties got what they wanted.

Mayor Wade chuckled on the phone, “If it's difficult, then don't consider it. I'll tell them that I can't handle this matter.”

After hesitating again and again, Bowen asked, “Can I know who wants this girl?”

“I don't actually know, because the person who called me was just an agent. If you want to know who it is, you have to investigate it yourself!”

He asked again, “If I refuse…”

Mayor Wade's voice was still so bright and enthusiastic, making people imagine the smile on his face, “Then this matter has nothing to do with me, and I won't intervene in whatever happens next.”

Mr. Bowen was a little troubled, “What you're saying sounds more like a hint and a threat to me. Honestly, I don't feel good about it.”

“Want to hear my advice?” Mayor Wade asked.

Mr. Bowen certainly wouldn't refuse, “Tell me.”

“You have to do the favor properly. Although I'm calling you is between us, there are two different outcomes if you hand over a lively girl versus a lifeless girl.”

“You know what I mean!”

“You have to let them know that they owe you a favor. With this favor, you don't have to worry about any other problems.”

“What you said makes sense. I accept your suggestion. Help me convey it to them.” Mr. Bowen thought for a while, “How should I hand her over?”

Mayor Wade's voice had more “happy” emotions, “A car will stop at the door of your villa in fifteen minutes, and they will take the girl away.”

“Bowen, we are old friends. I can assure you that this matter ends here.”

Mr. Bowen nodded, “I believe you!”

In fact, he could refuse, or even kill the girl, but he didn't know what he would face next.

The unknown is sometimes the most terrifying!

He had many things he cared about: wealth, power, family, health, everything he owned!

The richer people are, the more afraid they are of losing!

Of course, he wasn't really not planning to find out who this person was.

He agreed to Mayor Wade's “mediation,” and then dialed Councilor Charlie's number.

“I've encountered a small problem and need you to help me investigate someone.”

“Councilor Bowen, I am very happy to serve you. Does the person you want to investigate have a name or anything special about them?”

Mr. Bowen walked to the window and glanced at the internal street outside, “In about fifteen minutes, they will drive a car to park outside my villa.”

Councilor Charlie mistakenly thought that someone was extorting him and immediately said, “I will let Hunter personally bring people to arrest these lowly bastards and make them disappear from your sight!”

“No, no, no!” Mr. Bowen quickly interrupted, “Don't alarm them for now. I just want to know who they are, that's all.”

Although Councilor Charlie didn't know what was going on, he agreed.

Leaving aside him letting Hunter prepare some plainclothes people to do this, after finishing these things, Mr. Bowen came to the basement alone.

His basement was built in the yard, but the entrance was in the boiler room.

There was an inconspicuous door like a vent, and opening it revealed a passage leading to the secret basement.

Faya was locked up here.

The moment the basement door was opened, Faya's body began to tremble. She was required not to wear anything other than stockings and must wear a pair of small red shoes.

She curled up in the corner, her body covered in whip marks, her eyes showing a hint of fear and a hint of stubbornness.

What a perfect toy!

Seeing the bruises on the girl's body, he savored the feeling of his fist hitting the girl's skin and the cries that could please his heart.

Mr. Bowen sighed softly. The game had only just begun.

He was a little silent. Faya didn't dare to move and shrunk in the corner. A chain connected the ground to the collar around her neck.

She had resisted, but all she got in return was more vicious beatings and humiliation. A teenage girl was no match for an adult man.

But she didn't plan to give up hope. She pretended to compromise, trying to find an opportunity.

Mr. Bowen looked at her, "Answer my question, and I'll give you freedom."

Faya didn't know if he was playing some new 'game,' so she responded with silence.

"After you came to the Federation, did you get to know anyone from the Federation?"

He walked over to the chair and sat down. Faya moved a little in fright, keeping her distance from him. "No, I don't know anyone."

Mr. Bowen's gaze lingered on her frightened face for a while, but he didn't continue to press the question.

He would figure it out.

He brought a set of clothes from outside and threw them to her. "Put them on. Although I don't know who you or your family pulled strings with, you're free."

He stared into the girl's eyes. "This was just a possibly unpleasant adventure, but it has a satisfactory ending."

"Say what should be said, and don't say anything else. Do you understand what I mean?"

"Good luck, girl!"